So at over 4K on these OEM tires, I don't think I'm concerned about the bike being a tire eater. Madhatter's buddy and I are clearly not riding the SAS in the same way.
I believe I was premature in my assessment below.
The is one thing it's really bad at...it won't win any camouflage competitions.
Up on Highland Scenic Highway the bike was pretty well camouflaged.
Put the cases on the bike and went for the first fully loaded multi-day trip .
Our history of packing too much has remained consistent. Along with a heavy duffel bag on the back seat (not pictured), had to set the bike to 2 passenger with luggage to get the best handling out of it. That is exactly the same setting I used with the Tenere with a similar load. After getting my brain adjusted to the extra weight I was able to fully enjoy the twistiest of WV roads. It is different from an unloaded SAS, but still able to appreciate the handling and power of the bike in travel configuration.
Left for home from the top of Snow Shoe Mountain in WV. Pouring rain, heavy fog. Rain lasted on and off for over 4 hours of the ride home. The more years I ride, the more respect I have for wet roads. It is impossible to get away from Snow Shoe without encountering seriously twisty roads. A true joy on dry pavement, a cause for enhanced vigilance while riding a fully loaded bike on rain soaked roads covered in slippery leaves. The SAS gives as much confidence as a Tenere in these conditions.
Set to Rain mode the whole ride home, rebound at 2 passenger with luggage, and load set to Comfort, resulted the smoothest ride I've ever experienced on any motorcycle...ever. Looking at every imperfection and bridge transition on the mostly empty West Virginia 4-lane had me amazed at the ride of the weighted down bike.
Hopefully when 2020 is over I'll get to enjoy the bike on a true long distance ride. This mini-trip was enough to make me want more...and I do.
For you chain haters (including me), this was tolerable. Chain lubed before the trip, after 400 miles, bikes up on the stands, wife kicked the wheel around as I sprayed the chain. Definitely not as carefree as a shaft, but it's not completely miserable. Still don't know if I'll get a chain oiler. Wife is happier now that I've disabled her Scott Oiler, she hated the mess on her hands whenever she touched her cases. So I'll have to lube at least one bike on a trip. That ball is still up in the air regarding installing an oiler for the SAS.